Neolithic burial mound discovered near Stonehenge

An article on the BBC - 'Incredible' burial mound near Stonehenge to be excavated - reports on the discovery of a Neolithic burial mound near Stonehenge in England which archaeologists believe may contain human remains more than 5,000 years old.

An outline of the inner chamber, which would have been used for dead bodies was seen after a drone flew over. Image: UNIVERSITY OF READING.

The Neolithic monument, in a place known as Cat's Brain in Pewsey Vale, lies halfway between Avebury and Stonehenge (below) in Wiltshire. It was identified in aerial photographs.

Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.

Following the aerial discovery, archaeologists from the University of Reading are due to excavate the site. The site is made up of two ditches and an apparent central building, which may originally have been covered by a mound. The mound has now been removed by centuries of agriculture.

Dr Jim Leary, director of the university's archaeology field school, believes that it may contain human remains buried there in about 3,600 BC.

Drone footage showed features which could not be seen from the ground. Image: UNIVERSITY OF READING

He goes on to state that "Opportunities to fully investigate long barrows are virtually unknown in recent times and this represents a fantastic chance to carefully excavate one using the very latest techniques and technology.

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"Discovering the buried remains of what could be the ancestors of those who built Stonehenge would be the cherry on the cake of an amazing project."

Dr Leary's co-director, Amanda Clarke, agrees: "This incredible discovery of one of the UK's first monuments offers a rare glimpse into this important period in history.

"We are setting foot inside a significant building that has lain forgotten and hidden for thousands of years."

Members of the public will be able to visit the site to see the archaeologists at work during an open day on Saturday.